327. Telegram From the Department of State to
the Embassy in Indonesia1

Washington, January 25, 1972.

14367. Subj: Letter to Suharto
from President Nixon.

General Westmoreland is carrying
letter from President Nixon to
President Suharto. Text
follows.

“General Westmoreland’s visit with you
presents an excellent opportunity to set forth to you my views on the
importance of your country’s security and continuing economic development
and my determination to maintain our support for your outstanding efforts in
these vital areas.

In my letter to you of December 11,2
I outlined the extent to which I share your concern for strengthening the
foundations of Indonesia’s security and economic well being. In this regard,
I recognize the strains placed on Indonesia’s resources by the problems of
strengthening its [Page 707]security while
also maintaining the momentum of economic development which your country has
attained under your dedicated leadership. We in the United States want to do
everything we can to assist you in meeting this formidable challenge.

I also understand the concern which you expressed to Ambassador Galbraith recently over the threat which
Communist expansionism— whether originating in Moscow, Peking, or
Hanoi—poses for Indonesia and Southeast Asia. I welcome your interest in
helping to strengthen the other Southeast Asian nations so that they may
cope with this threat, as well as your plans to improve Indonesia’s
cooperation through ASEAN and particularly
with Japan and Australia.

In the light of these considerations, I want to tell you that, despite the
severe limitation which our Congress has placed upon funds for military
assistance, we will continue our military assistance for Indonesia this
fiscal year at a level at least equal to that of last fiscal year. Further,
I am asking the Congress for funds to increase our military assistance to
you in Fiscal Year 1973. I believe this assistance on our part, together
with our contributions through the Inter-Governmental Group for Indonesia,
constitutes one of the most important means by which the United States can
help to insure that the tremendous progress realized during the past six
years under your leadership is not lost, but will indeed continue.

I also want to reassure you, as I have on earlier occasions, that the United
States intends to remain in Asia to play a balancing role in the stability
of the region, and that we will stand firmly behind all of our treaty
commitments. Toward these ends, we will retain sufficient air, naval, and
ground forces in Asia in order to accomplish these purposes.

Indonesia has a vital role to play in the future peace, prosperity, and
stability of Southeast Asia and Asia as a whole. As I recently conveyed to
you through Ambassador Galbraith, I
shall have your country’s interests very much in mind as I go to Peking and
then to Moscow in the coming months. Knowing your keen interest in my trips,
I will plan to be in touch with you when I return as to their results, and I
would appreciate your reaction to these missions. I will hope, too, that you
will feel free to pass any thoughts on these and other matters to General
Westmoreland which he may report
to me upon his return.